(Photo Credit: Prince Williams/Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
At 11:43PM On July 21, 2015 Meek Mill wrote the first tweet…And nothing was the same.
Minutes before midnight Meek Mill took over the Internet with his first shots at his now foe Drake after the Toronto rapper failed to promote Meek’s latest album Dreams Worth More Than Money.
Let’s go back to July 20, 2015 before the tweet dropped. Meek Mill’s career was on the rise. FAST! His album was number one on the Billboard 200 beating out Taylor Swift and his latest single “R.I.C.O.” featuring Drake was proving to be the second hit between the two. Adding to his rapid rise was his relationship with Nicki Minaj, which at the time was only in the public eye for a few months. Things were looking great for the Philadelphia rapper.
On the other side Drake was simply minding his business showering in the success with this surprise February mixtape If You’re Reading This Its Too Late.
Then at 11:46pm on this date in July, everything changed with one tweet.
Stop comparing drake to me too…. He don’t write his own raps! That’s why he ain’t tweet my album because we found out!
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) July 22, 2015
The reactions of that night was of shock, confusion, and intrigue as Meek Mill continued his onslaught past midnight with more entertainment any television show could bring at the time.
It seemed as EVERYONE had an opinion on the matter. OG Maco had plenty to say while producer Boy1Da had Drizzy’s back before he had a chance to react.
Nobody was safe. Rick Ross became the joke of the night after accidently tweeting Drake > Meek, while even we found our way onto Meek Mill’s “list” (wonder if we’re still on it).
Yall chill too…. Yall kinda on the list too! RT @HOT97: About what time you think Meek Mill is going to announce he’s hacked?
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) July 22, 2015
It was also the night we met Quentin Miller.
Who is Quentin Miller?
Meek dropped a bomb that night that Drake, who at the time was considered one of the most skilled MC’s and artists, didn’t write his own rhymes. Then named the man who allegedly did it for him.
His name is Quentin Miller.
Quentin miller
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) July 22, 2015
Miller is an Atlanta native and was working on his career as an artist and writer at the time. He had writing credits on tracks such as “Know Yourself,” “No Tellin,” “10 Bands,” “Used To,” and “6 Man.”
He was also credited in Drake and Meek Mill’s hit single “R.I.C.O.”
Miller explained his role days after he became a household name.
Most of the project was done before i came in the picture.. i remember him playing it for me for the first time thinking “Why am I here?” like.. what does he need me for??
The answer is.. Nothing…
I watched this man piece together words in front of me…
I watched him write/ replace bars 2- 3 at a time on 6pm in NY.. I witnessed him light up, go in and freestyle madonna….
Hours after Meek’s attempt to expose Drake, the debate continued on what the new revelations mean for Drake’s legacy. Little did we know it would just become the TGRI Ooze that would later make him super Drake later in the year. (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 if you’re scratching your head).
Then Funk Flex got hold of the secret demo tapes of several songs including “10 Bands,” and “6 Man.”
Drake’s Response
Before any bars were thrown (on a record at least) the debate was 50/50. Drake is a true artist who can sing, and rap and make hits. But Meek Mill had come from the battle scene. He knows how to handle the situation.
So we thought…
Days went by and on July 25, Drizzy dropped his first jab called “Charged Up,” a track that Meek called “Baby Soft.”
The warning shot wasn’t the verse that we were all expected, but little did we know that Drake had a couple more tricks up his sleeve.
Four days later, the lyrics “is that a world tour or your girls tour” became the lyrics heard around the world when he dropped another track towards Meek Mill with “Back To Back.”
The track was so popular, even baseball legend Joe Carter had something to say about it with the classic artwork to go along with the track.
Meek Mill’s Response
Drake 2, Meek 0
We waited. And waited. AAAAAND waited for the Meek’s response off social media and through music.
Before we got to hear that though, Funk Flex got hold of reference tracks by Quentin Miller for “Used To,” ”Know Yourself,” and “R.I.C.O.”
After hearing the tracks it was time for us to hear Meek on wax. Eventually after the anticipation reached a boiling point due to the pump fake heard around the world, Meek finally released his response, “Wanna Know.”
Using the theme from WWE’s Undertaker, the rapper linked up with alleged ghostwriter Quentin Miller for a response that…well… was underwhelming at the very best.
It was so bad WWE threatened to sue, his alleged “sister” clapped back, and EVERYONE had an opinion. We mean everyone.
“Back to Back” peaked at #21 on the Hot 100, and brought back tons of memes which led Drake to use them on tour.
We heard another record called “3 Peat” was coming, but Drake chose to show Meek some mercy after what looked to be a blowout win.
The Aftermath
It has now been two years since the beef began. Most people claim that Drake won the battle singlehandedly. So bad in fact that it would be difficult to see Meek reach the heights he was reaching before.
Last year, Meek recently completed a 90 day stint on house arrest for violating his probation. He responded after Drake’s release of “Summer Sixteen.” Minutes after that release, the Philly rapper dropped “War Pain,” the forth track from his 4/4 2 EP
Drake used the beef to level up to arguably the top hip hop artist today. He had a #1 album in VIEWS and another one in More Life. He shared his thoughts thoughts on the beef with The Fader last year.
This is a discussion about music, and no one’s putting forth any music?… Nobody told you that this was a bad idea, to engage in this and not have something?…It was weighing heavy on me. I didn’t get it. I didn’t get how there was no strategy on the opposite end. I just didn’t understand. I didn’t understand it because that’s just not how we operate.
He has officially charters on the Billboard 100 for the last eight years in a row, and also won a record 13 Billboard awards earlier this year.
Meek Mill is now 30-years-old and growing up. He broke up with his girlfriend, and beefs with labelmate Wale, and others have died down. In late 2016, he was involved in a beef with The Game before his Philadelphia boy Beanie Sigel got in the middle of very interesting battle. Months later, the beef has died down, and he evenopen to having a dialog with his former foe. Other than a back and forth with Safaree in Los Angeles earlier this year, Meek is looking to keep inspiring kids in the hood with the release of his new album Wins & Losses.
Take a look back at the madness below.
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